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Yes, and I will continue to rejoice because I know this will lead to my salvation – Philippians 1:18-19

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Faith is the substance of things hoped for – we don’t just wait to see something and then believe – we believe first, and then we see it happen. This is why the kingdom is often referred as an upside-down kingdom (or reality).

We sometimes see people making a list of the things they want. Then they make plans as to how to get these things. Some may require extra money, some learning another language, other getting a certificate (or a driving license). There are those who need special training or a degree of certain kind of professions and career. It’s the same with faith – when we hope for something, we believe that it is possible. Yet there is a slight difference between wanting and hoping. To hope is to expect what may not be possible, such as hoping for healing. We may want to be healthy, but when we become sick, we hope that we’ll get well. So faith works for both wanting and hoping, but when things we hope for are not in our own human strength, we use faith.

This is what Paul describes during his prison time – he had the joy of being free while still in prison. He had enough faith to believe that his expectation of leaving the prison will be met. As a matter of fact his faith was so strong that he felt the joy before seeing it to pass. This is a spiritual order – there is the hope, and faith is the substance. The fruit of the spirit is nurtured in the realm of faith, hope and love. A good faith soil will bring forth a good fruit. And the joy is the sign of fruitfulness.

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